Turks and Caicos

Where are the Turks and Caicos Islands?
The Turks & Caicos Islands lie some 575 miles southeast of Miami--about 1 1/2 hours flying time - with the Bahamas about 30 miles to the northwest and the Dominican Republic some 100 miles to the southeast. The country consists of two island groups separated by the 22 mile wide Columbus Passage. To the west are...

The islands’ first dwellers were the peaceful Tainos, who left behind ancient utensils and little else. By the middle of the 16th century not one Lucayan, as Columbus named them, remained. Like the Lucayans in the Bahamas islands, they were kidnapped for use as slaves or pearl divers, while many others died of imported diseases. The discovery of the islands...

The National Trust is a relatively new, non-profit, non-governmental conservation organization, working in co-operation with the Government, the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy and local people to preserve the natural and historical heritage of the islands and develop sustainable tourism to keep the Turks and Caicos Islands ‘beautiful by nature...

Getting Turks and Caicos
There are international airports on Grand Turk, North Caicos, Providenciales and South Caicos, with domestic airports on all of the islands except for West Caicos and East Caicos, which are uninhabited. American Airlines flies twice daily between Providenciales and Miami.
In season, there are weekly charter flights from several...

Rugged and uninhabited but worth visiting for its beautiful beach on the northwest coast and excellent diving offshore. Once frequented by pirates, there are many wrecks between here & Provo. The east shore is a marine park. Inland there is a saltwater lake, Lake Catherine, which rises and falls with the tides and is a nature reserve, home to migrant...

Telephone Services
Grand Turk, Provo and South Caicos have a modern local and international telephone service, with Cable and Wireless offices in Grand Turk and Provo. Telephone services on the North and Middle Caicos and Salt City are improving. There are two exchanges, 946 and 941. Local directory assistance T118, international operator T115; credit card...

Government:
The Turks and Caicos are a British Dependent Territory. The British monarch is Head of State, represented by a Governor, currently John Kelly. The Executive Council chaired by the Governor is formed by six ministers, the Financial Secretary, the Attorney General and the Chief Secretary, the last two being British government appointments. Mrs...

The nearest Caicos island, 22 miles west of Grand Turk, South Caicos; also known as The Big South or East Harbour, (pop: 1,198), was once the most populous and the largest producer of salt. It is now the main fishing port having benefited from the most naturally protected harbour in the islands and is also known as East Harbour, or the ‘rock’. As a result...

Most events are linked to the sea and land-based activities are tacked on to regattas or fishing tournaments. In Providenciales the billfishing tournament (see Beaches & Watersports) is a big event with lots of parties every night. Provo Day festivities follow Emancipation Day in August. Festivities culminate in the choosing and inauguration of Miss...

By Air
Flight time from Grand Turk to the furthest island (Provo) is 35 minutes. Turks & Caicos Airways provides a twice daily service Provo to Grand Turk via the out-islands, round trip. SkyKing and Inter Island Airways also provide frequent flights between the islands. Private charters are readily available within the island group and can easily be...

Pine Cay is an 800-acre private resort owned by a group of homeowners who also own the exclusive 12 room The Meridian Club. Children under six years are not allowed to stay in the hotel and there are lots of restrictions on where they are allowed if brought to a villa. The homes, which are very comfortable, with spectacular views, can be rented from US$475-...

The Caribbean is a fabulous setting to relax after the trauma of illness. In the Turks and Caicos Islands tourist spots there are warm and unpolluted seas, coral reefs with angelfish and turtles, miles of white sandy beaches, deserted islands and protected wilderness parks to explore. Much of the time is spent in or under the water. It is at the east of...